A COUPLE of weeks ago Colin Healy was savouring the prospect of stepping out against Coventry in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Then it seemed he was on course to line up in Sunday’s Championship opener at the Ricoh Arena after Ipswich Town boss Roy Keane gazumped little Hartlepool United to sign the Republic of Ireland midfielder.

In the event, his debut is delayed because he has a one-match ban hanging over him from his spell with home-town club Cork City.

And that will deny Sky Blues fans the opportunity to show their appreciation of a player whose chequered career embraces a highly-impressive loan spell and a horrific injury at Highfield Road.

Healy spent three months with City in early 2002, scoring two goals in 17 league appearances, and then-manager Roland Nilsson was anxious to make him a permanent acquisition.

The Sky Blues were unable to reach a deal with Celtic, however, and when Healy did move south in the summer of 2003 it was to sign for Sunderland.

He was an instant success at The Stadium Of Light but in December that year he was stretchered off with a shattered leg ten minutes from the end of a 1-1 draw after being caught by a late tackle from former team-mate Youssef Safri.

The Moroccan was mortified by the incident and City boss Gary McAllister insisted: “It was totally accidental. I have played with Youssef Safri for 18 months now and he is not a malicious player.

“He went for the ball and it was just one of those horrible injuries that happen because of the pace of the game.

These guys are such athletes these days that these things happen so quickly – the referee was only two or three yards away and didn’t see anything intentional.”

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy didn’t see it that way, insisting: “It was a bad tackle.

I have seen it three times on replay and I can’t dress it up as anything other than over the ball.”

It took Healy nearly a year to recover from his injury and, shortly after resuming full training, he suffered another fracture (according to some reports, ironically enough) in a practice-match challenge with McCarthy.

When his Sunderland contract ran out in 2006, his career drifted with brief spells at Livinston, Barnsley and Bradford before he returned to Cork in 2007.

But he rediscovered his form in the League Of Ireland and, still two months shy of his 29th birthday, signed a new two-year deal in January.

This summer, Cork agreed to sell Healy and team-mate Denis Behan to Hartlepool for £100,000.

But less than a week later Ipswich moved in with a £70,000 bid for Healy who opted to join Keane at Portman Road.

Healy missed Cork’s pre-season friendly against Ipswich because he was over in England discussing terms with Hartlepool.

But Keane explained: “After the game I took stock and thought about what I need. I know he is a very good character and he will add a bit more steel to the spine of our team.

“I have played against him a few times and know what he can do. He has played 20 or so games this season so he will be ready to come straight in and I look forward to him coming in.”

Healy – rejected by former Town manager Jim Magilton after turning out in a trial game three years ago – said: “Ipswich is a big club. When I came here before it was great and I was looked after really well, so now I’m now looking forward to being part of this club.

“Jim Magilton didn’t think I was right for the club so nothing came of it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but I have another opportunity now so I want to make the most of it. I didn’t have a clue I would be coming here and really thought I was going to Hartlepool.

“I can understand them being upset but Roy gave me a buzz and asked me to come and have a chat and when Roy Keane is interested in you then you have to listen.”